THE European Parliament’s Brexit co-ordinator Guy Verhofstadt has savaged Home Office plans to deal with European Union citizens after Britain leaves the EU in alphabetical order as “worthy of a budget airline”.

European Parliament members are reportedly “deeply concerned” at reports Britain will process an estimated three million EU citizens applying for post-Brexit settled status in alphabetical order – meaning any von Zeppelins or Wolffs would face a long wait.

In a joint statement the European Parliament’s Brexit steering group said that such an approach would be “complicated, arbitrary and could create unnecessary confusion and uncertainty for millions” and the Parliament’s Brexit coordinator Guy Verhofstadt added: “We need a simple, efficient and fair process, not one a budget airline would be proud of.”

Responding to reports, the European Parliament’s Brexit negotiator suggested Westminster should work on a better solution and “not one that a budget airline would be proud of”.

The Home Office may have to register up to 3.6 million EU citizens for “settled status” before Britain quits the EU on March 29 2019.

Despite the system being due for a “phased rollout toward the end of 2018”, Home Office officials are still pondering how would be most efficient and politically acceptable to carry out the Brexit promise to respect the EU citizens wanting to remain in Britain.

A number of methods are being considered, including registering EU applicants sector by sector or by geographical region. However, both plans risk backlash from those left at the back of the queue, which will feature at least three million names.

We need a simple, efficient and fair process, not one that a budget airline would be proud of

Guy Verhofstadt

Home Office officials believe registering EU citizens alphabetically could be the least politically sensitive out of the three proposals put forward, according to Business Insider.

According to the plans, caseworkers would process applicants in “bite-sized chunks” in alphabetical order based on the first letter of their name.

Mr Verhofstadt, chairman of the European Parliament’s Brexit Steering Group, believes Britain’s plan only creates further uncertainty for EU citizens.

He said: “Reports that the UK Home Office is considering registering EU citizen's alphabetically are deeply troubling.

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“We need a simple, efficient and fair process, not one that a budget airline would be proud of."

The influential Belgian MEP’s Steering Group also issued a statement urging Britain to reconsider the plans.

It reads: “We believe such an approach would be complicated, arbitrary and could create unnecessary confusion and uncertainty for millions of EU citizens already living in limbo.

Guy Verhofstadt and Home Secretary Sajid Javid have been negotiating the UK's registration system (Image: GETTY)

“Those at the end of the alphabet may not get their status confirmed until the end of 2020 or later, which would be intolerable and contrary to the spirit of the assurances we have previously received.